League Rules

The Toronto Dodgeball League will make every effort to make sure a referee is at your game. However, if there is a circumstance where the referee can not make it at the last minute (due to a last minute emergencies, illness or traffic issues) teams should be prepared to self-officiate. These games should still be scored properly and reported at the end of the night as a completed game.

Dodgeball Rules

1. This is Dodgeball...We do not recommend taking things too seriously. Having fun is the most important aspect to this game.
2. Each team will be given two dodgeballs which they will be responsible for bringing to each game.
3. Each game is 55 minutes long. The game will end 55 minutes after the scheduled start time.
4. Games are played with 6 players on the court (with a min of 2 males & 2 females). Teams may play with less players, but the gender requirements should try to be met. If the minimum gender requirements cannot be met, then a forfeit can be enforced, or captains can come to an agreement prior to the game starting to alter the rules to get the game played (to try and avoid a forfeit). All forfeits must be enforced prior to starting the game. If a forfeit is not explicitly enforced before the game begins, then the game will count.
5. The game begins by one team shouting "Ready, Set, Dodgeball!"
6. Each team starts with two balls.
7. Players try to hit opposing players below the neck with the ball. If a player is hit, they are out, and must go sit off to the side. If a player is hit in the face, neck or back of head, they are safe AND the player who threw it is out (Headshot rule). The person who is hit in the head/neck is the one to call it a head shot.
8. Starting in Winter 2011, there is an exception to the headshot rule: If the person who is hit in the head was either ducking, bending over, or intentionally putting their head in the way of a ball, the ref (at their discretion) may overrule the headshot call. In this case, it is ruled a "no call", meaning both players (the thrower and the person hit) will be safe and remain in the game.
9. If a player catches a ball that was thrown at them, the player who threw it is out AND a teammate that was out may come back in to play. Players must come back in the order in which they were knocked out. Only Players playing in that game may come back in.
10. If a ball hits the floor, wall or other object (e.g. basketball net), it is dead and anyone that is hit with the ball after it is dead is safe.
11. If a player attempts to catch a thrown ball and fails (and does touch the ball), they are out. If a player attempts to catch it and then it hits the wall or another object, they are out.
12. If a thrown ball deflects off of one person and hits another person, they are both out. If a ball deflects off one person, but is caught by a teammate, they are both safe - the person who threw it out, and a player on the catching team may comeback in after being out.
13. Players may use a ball to block throws. However, if they drop the ball as a result of blocking a ball, they are out.
14. After a ball is deflected by a blocker ball, it is still "live".
15. If a deflected ball, hits someone in the face, it is a "no call" since you can’t get out by getting hit in the face but the thrower shouldn’t be out because the player deflected it into their own face (or another teammate’s face).
16. A player may not hold more than one ball at a time. If a person catches a ball while holding another ball, the thrower is safe.
17. When all the players on a team are out, the other team wins the game and is awarded one point. Teams then switch sides, and start another game. The team that wins the most games, wins the match (and 2 points in the standings).
18. If each team only has one player left in a game, they have one minute to eliminate the other. If one is not eliminated after one minute, each team will add one more player (the first player who was off the court).
19. Players cannot hide behind a bench or other objects. If a ball goes out of play, one player may go get it but must return to action immediately.
20. A player may not hold onto a ball for more than 10 seconds. This slows the game down.
21. Bouncing the ball, putting it down on the floor in front/beside you, passing it to a teammate, or purposely not picking up the ball does NOT increase your 10 seconds. The goal is to keep the game moving.
22. If a player from team A throws the ball and hits a player from Team B and the ball rebounds off the player back onto Team A’s side, the ball is considered dead. Therefore, the player from Team B is out. This is even the case if a Player on Team A catches the rebound. Otherwise, someone could claim that since Team A caught it before it hit the ground, the player on Team B is safe. This also means that if the ball rebounded off of Player B and back onto Team A’s side and hit a player on Team A, that player is safe.
23. Players can only throw the ball at the other team. Kicking or spiking the ball is not permitted.
24. If teams are playing in a gym that gives an unfair advantage to one team (e.g. a stage on one side), then the teams should switch sides at the halfway mark of the game.
25. Players must remain on their own side of half. They may reach over the half line to retrieve a ball, but they can’t touch the other side of the court *If they do, they must give the ball to the other team).
26. Players may not run up to the half line, jump over it, and throw the ball before they land. The ball must be released on your side of half.
27. Players returning to the court after a catch is made have 5 seconds before they are out from being hit, unless they become involved in the play (meaning they pick up a ball, run up to the line, or try to catch a throw, etc.).
28. Starting 2017, players are not permitted to squeeze the air out of the ball. Players can squeeze gently to get a better grip on the ball. However, any deliberate and excessive squeezing of the ball, in an effort to get rid of the air, so as to throw harder and/or get extra movement on the ball is not permitted.

Should players request an explanation from a ref on why a call was made, please direct your team captain to discuss this with the ref on your behalf. Team captain's are required to ask in a calm and concise manner (yelling or berating a ref will not be tolerated). The only permitted time to discuss calls with referees is prior to the game, during a break in play, or after your game has concluded. Questioning referee calls during a game is not permitted (as they will not take time to stop the game to discuss calls with you).

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